CNG Fuels, in partnership with National Grid, has unveiled a new filling station in Leyland, Lancashire.

It allows vehicles to fill up on compressed natural gas (CNG), directly from the high-pressure local transmission system.

The station, which is just off junction 28 of the M6, is capable of refuelling more than 500 HGVs per day.

It also supplies 100% renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) and is an important part of the UK’s rapidly growing CNG refuelling infrastructure. The bio-methane is made from waste at anaerobic digestion plants and delivered to the filling station through the National Grid pipeline system.

Philip Fjeld, director at CNG Fuels, said: “Even though the price of diesel and petrol has recently plummeted, the wholesale price of natural gas has also dropped, and our customers can still enjoy a pump price of CNG at our Leyland station that is more than 30% cheaper than the equivalent price of one litre of diesel.

“Using natural gas also cuts CO2 emissions by more than 20% and if fleets choose to fuel their trucks with Bio-CNG, they will be running on 100% renewable gas.”

The first major customer, Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, filled up at the new facility yesterday (March 14).

Justin Laney, central transport general manager for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “John Lewis Partnership is committed to running a sustainable logistics operation, and the use of low carbon fuels in our vehicle fleet is a key element of that. 

"Our strategy is to displace diesel with bio-methane where practical, and we run one of the largest alternatively fueled heavy truck fleets in the UK to enable us to do that. This filling station is an important step that will help us continue to improve our fleet sustainability.”